Outlet-box construction



Nov. 13 1923. 1,473,812

- |51. T. CLI-:MENTS Filed May 12. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIII SHOM/w11 l Nov. 13,1923. 1,473,812

. N. T. CLEMENTS OUTLET B0X CONSTRUCTION Filed May l2, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 2' Nov. 13,1923. 1,473,312

' N. T. CLEMENTS OUTLET BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed'May 12. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 l MW M15/S T. C/emens,

l @Heiney vfor a Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

UNITED `sTArila.

NILS T. CJEMENTS, OF SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN;

OUTLET-BOX' CONSTRUCTION.

Application nl ed May 12,

To all whomzmay concern:

Be it known that I, NILs T. CLnMnN'rsLa citizen of Sweden, residing at Superior, 1n`

the county of Douglas and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Outlet-Box Construction, of which thejfollowing is a specification.

The invention has for an object to effect improvements in outlet boxes for electric installations. A articular purpose of the 1nvention is to e ectan improvement in such devices whereby armored cable may be quickl and securely fastened when entered in suoli a box, in a new and efficient way. In this direction it is also a purpose to enf able the use of the same elements by Awhich outlet openings in thepbox are closed to be used also as securing devices for cables en teredthrough the openings. A related object is to enable the use of a single plate to close one or both of two openings, orto leave them both open, and at the same time serve to Vsecure either one or two cables as required.

Another aim of the invention is to effect an improvement in the manner of forming and assembling a box of a plurality of sheet elements connected at abutting edges, and particularly whereby the provision on side walls on a box of a fastening late disposed therebetween may be effected) in a new and novel way. vIt .is also an aim in this connection to ive a means for supporting against one si e element of a box an abutting edge portion of another side element. against movement transversely to its piane, in either direction.

Another specific object-of the invention is to effect an improvement in outlet boxes con structed for gang assembly or for use singly. A still further aim of the invention is to provide an improved form of lath rest in devices of this character.

The invention involves additional objects, l

advantages and features of invention as will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawings of one embodiment thereof, y

Figure .1 of the drawings being an end view of a box constructed in'accordance with my invention,

Fig. 1"L is a similar view showing the clamp gate 1n use. y

Fig. E?, is a back view thereof, Fig. 3v is a perspective view, of the same cox,

box, Fig.A 17 is a vfragmentary side elevation 1920. serial no. 380,737.

4 isa fragmentary front view of a Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view showing the lath rest.,

Fig. 6 is a detail for the blank for the outer wall portion of the box,

Fig. 7 is a similar view ofthe blank for the back and inner wall portions,

Fig. 8 is a plan of the blank for the lath rest,

Fig. 9 -is a detail elevation of the manner of fastening to one'plate an abutting edge portion ofanother,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the foregoing method of attachment,

Fig. 11 is a plan of the blank for the body of a box of modified form,

Fig. 12. is-'a similar view of the blank for the side of such a box,

- Fi 13 is a front view of such a box assemb ed, for a single gang,

Fig. 14 is a similar view of a two gang assembly Ofsimilar construction,

Fig. 15 is a detail of the box body for gang assembly,

F1g.l16 is an end view of a single gang thereof.

There'is illustrated in Figures 1-to 8 an outlet box especially suited for new work, adapted to be secured against thel side of a stud, with means for supporting laths, where thelathing is interrupted to permit entering of the'.` box. The box includes a stud plate 10, forming at the same -time one vertical side of the box as customarily put in place, an integral bottom or back side 11 of the box being formed integrally therewith. The

remaining sides of the box are formed in one piece 12, shown in Fig. 6, which is bent so as to form' an outer side 13 opposed to the side 10 and ends 14 ofduplicate form. In the blanks for the plate 10 and piece 12,

-shown in Figures 7 and v'6, the lines upon v which the blanks are bent to shape the device are indicatedby dotted lines. he plate 10 is longer than is necessary for the length of the box, whereby a projecting flange 15 is formed at each end alined with the body of the plate, but on each end a slit is formed as at 16 in Fig. 7 in alinement with the end of the box, forming an ear 17, which is bent to lie at right angles tothe flange 15 so that it may reject over the face of a stud against the-side of which the ange 15 isdisposed,

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enabling the securement of a box from the front by heavy screws, when necessary. The flanges l5 are also apertured at their rear part, so that the box may be secured adjacent the rear part to the side of the stud by screws. The usual switch mounting is provided for at 18. Upon the outer side of the side wall 13 of the box there is secured a lath rest, 19, which may be formed of wood as shown in Fig. 3, so that lath ends may be nailed thereto, or may consist of a metal lath fastening and rest device as shown at 20,y in Figures l and 5, which is thought preferable. In this instance, the rest is formed of a single blank such as shown in Fig. 8,' provided on one edge with a series of teeth 21 which are preferably so shaped that they may be forced into the end of a lath without objectionably splitting the same, to hold the lath against transverse movement. The opposite longitudinal edge 22 of the blank is planiform. The blank is then bent upon parallel longitudinal lines 23 which are spaced apart less than the thickness of a lath, and nearer the toothed edge of the blank than to the plain edge. The outer edge portions are honi so as to extend at right angles to the intermediate portion 2li which is apertured or otherwise adapted to be secured to the side wall 13 of the box. By reason ot' ihc bend being formed further from one ed ge than the other as mentioned, the part 20 serves as a supporting flange 25 as shown in Figures 4 and 5, located toward the bottom of the outlet box, so that when a lath is rested thereon and pressed against the toothed edge 2l, it may be nailed at the opposite end or other parts to adjacent studs in the usual way, but the end engaged with the lest 20 will be held and properly supported to withstand pressure from the face of the wall without nailing or the use of any other fastening means, and Will also be held in rigid relation to the box, so that after fastening and completion of the electrical installation, op# eration of the switch devices or the like installed in the box or pressure on the wall will not tend to crack the plaster by reason of relative movement between the box and fastener, which often occurs due to the yieldin quality of the lathing or because it is insu ciently supported.

The end portions 14: are each formed with two openings 26, the edges of which next to what will be termed the bottom edge 27 of the blank are toothed, the openings be` ing somewhat enlarged at the toothed edge so that the teeth will provide an opening of suitable size to readily receive the loom or other electrical conduit. A closing gate 28 is provided for these openings, consisting of a plate of a suitable size to cover both of the openings simultaneously. having a transverse slo't 29 therein through which a binding screw 30 is engaged in a suitable threaded aperture 3l formed in the blank l2. One edge oi the gate 2S is provided with a central extension 2&2 and end extensions 33 so that semi-circular recesses or bays 34: may he formed in the lateral edge of the plate adjacent the ends. Teeth are formed on tho adjacent edge portions of the plate 28 throughout its length, for a purpose to be explained. Initially, the plate will be adjusted over both openings,` so as to close them as shown at the far end of Fig. 3, and the screw 80 then tightened so as to hold the plate securely in closing position.

When the device is used in an insulation, should it become necessary to use one of the openings, the screw 30 is loosened, and the plate 28 rotated thereon so as to swing one end downwardly toward the bottom of the box and thence laterally and outwardly, to the position shown in Fig. la, when one opening will be uncovered, and the part of the pla-te originally disposed thereover will be disposed over the opening. r[he loom or other conduit may then be introduced in the uncovered opening, the screw 30 having been slight-ly tightened, and by driving upon the straight .back edge 35 of the plate, the toothed extension 32 will be driven into engagement with the loom or conduit so as to hold it securely against rotation or withdrawal from the opening; and maintaining suitable pressure upon the plate while further tightening the screw 30, the clamping of the conduit will be made permanent. In case it should be desired to use both openings at one end of the box, the plate 28 is further rotated upon the screw 3() to the position shown in Fig. l, and when th-e loom or other conduit is introduced in the openings the plate may loe driven into engagement with both conduits so that the teeth of the notches 34 will be pressed into engagement with the conduit coacting with the'opposed teeth lof the openings 26 to secure the loom against rot-ation or withdrawal, and the screw 3d similarly tightened to secure the two conduits. The one element thereby serves the function both of a closure for the outlet opening and as a clamp for conduits, taking the place of the ordinary knock-out plates and special bushings, nuts or other securing devices ordinarily employed. It is an advantage o't my invention that t-he toothed edges of the openings 2G coacting with the toothed plate 28 prevent ordinary looms, or armored cable from unscrewing, by bodily rotation of the conduit, which sometimes occurs even when the conduit is securely held against longitudinal withdrawal directly.

In order to support the side 11 and hold it against. displacement from its normal plane slits 36 are formed in the member 13 close to and parallel to the back edges thereof intermediately of the respective sides formed lof,

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therewith. The slits arespaced from the edges a distance corresponding to' the thicknessof the plate 10. The body of theboxy side above or forwardly of the slit is pressed inwardly into a bowed shape so as to form a stop or lug 37. .The metal at the outer side of the slit 1s forced outwardly in the plane of t-he side of which it is formed, and thence pressed inwardly over the back portion 11 and closely thereagainst, so as to form a retaining and supporting inea-ns which holds the back wall 11 against being pressed Aback.

wardly, as shown at 38 in Figures 1, 1, 2, 9

. and 10. I customarily have heretofore efassemb fected the latter operations as well as the ,formation of the back 37 `after thebottom plate 11 has been put in place between the sides 13 and 14. The formation of the parts 38 and 37 has also been done in one operation with a pointed tool angular inv cross section which has been pressed against the -metal at the upper side of the slit until the stop 37 is formed, and then by an outward ushing movement relatively to the box and `inward, extended over the abutting plate.

.In Figures 11 to 17 inclusive there is illustrated a form of box which may be readily used for old or newv work, and it is also especially advantageous in enabling the ganging of boxes in such a manner that the ed parts will be held very firmly in rigid relation, it being an objection to many present constructions of this kind that when ganged, it is not readily possible to secure the parts in goodalined position with each other. This form of device is also well adapted for use in conned situations, requiring less room for conduits immediately adjacent the box than the usual form of outlet boxes. In this instance, the box includes a body member 40, forming the back and top and bottom sides of the box, as well as integral mounting flanges 41 at top and bottom to engage over lath work and receive mounting screws. For ordinary work, these body members 40 are constructed as shown in Fig. 11, being bent on a transverse line, to form an inset conduit inlet wall 42 extending at an oblique angle to the major back portion, immediately adjacent which inset rtion the metal is bent outwardly formin -a shelf` parallel to the plane of the body o the back as at 43 and thence extended a short distance to a line at` which the outer part of the blank is bent into a plane at right angles to the body of the back, the extreme end edge` portion being bent outwardly at right angles to form the mounting flange 41. In the oblique portion 42 there are formed two oval openings 46, the width of which is sullicientto loosely receive the ordinary loom of armored cable, the major dimension of the opening extending vertically andbeing slightly greater than the width, extending nearly or quite the full distance between the transverse limits of the oblique portion 42. i

The box includes videntical side members 48, which are formed with a contour at their inner side ortions corresponding to the form in which the body member 40 is bent, and of a szc to lie against the edges of the body member 40, the edges of the sides bcving flush with the outer surface ofthe body 40. A rectilinear outer or front edge 49 is formed on the side members, and close to this at each corner there is formed an ear or tongue 5() at right angles to the plate \beginning at a point inwardly of the edge 49 so that the tongue may extend under the flange 41, the tongue havin an upward extension at its outer part a apted to engage in rectan ula-r apertures 51 formed in the liange 41 a jacent each side. The upper lateral edge portion of the body 48 is also `cut away at 45 to allowv the flange 41 to project so that its outer or lateral edge lies flush with the outer face of the sides 48 as shown in Figs. 13 et seq. The side members are also formed with inwardly projected tongues 52 positioned to engage over the shelf portion 43 of the body member, and tongues 53 .are formed upon the back edge, bent inwardly so vas to extend across the back and outer face of the back portion 41, these being formed with threaded apertures to receive screws 54 `engaged through suitable apertures in the back portion 41 at each side'. If desired, a conduit inlet aperture 55 may be formed in the'back portion 40 and closed by a pivoted shutter plate 56, one side of which is extended' and recessed as at 57, the edge of which is toothed, so that it ma act as a clamp for looms inserted through t e aperture 55. The plate 56 is secured by the same screw` 54 which engages he ear 5 3 of the side 48, at one side of the- A combination closing and clamping plate 60 for closing or securing a conduit in the vopenings 46 is provided, consisting of' a single plate of a length and width suflicient j to cover the opening when laid thereover and being extended `a sufficient distance to provide a notched and toothed part 61 bent at the same angle to the remainder of the plate as that between the walls 41 and 42 of the box body. The plate 60 is provided -with a central aperture in each side threaded to receive a screw 62 inserted loosely through a suitable aperture in the back wall 41, at 63. The clamping Ipart 61 is extended a sufficient distance from the plane part of the plate to project over the openings 46 a distance when the plane part of the plate is drawn snugly up against the bottom of the box. It'will be readily appreciated that with the plate in one position the openings are closed and held securely closed by the plate when the screw i 62 is tightened, and in the other position,

by operating the screw to allow the toothed part to lie outwardly of the opening, a loom or other conduit may be inserted in each opening, and then, by tightening the screw (S2, the plate is drawn into forcible clamp and locking engagement with the Conduit. In order to permit ganging of such boxes, a body piece ma be provided, constructed in every particular, the same as the body member first described, with the addition of a locking ear similarto the one 50 before mentioned, and extending from one edge of the body member only, the opening 5l being omitted at that side, and a back securing ear 53 similar to the one 53 formed upon the side elements 48, and offset so as to readily pass outwardly of the back of another body member, of the same form, the ear being provided with a threaded aperture to receive the screw 54. If desired, the member 40 may have ears 65 formed at each side on the shelf portion 43, the ears at one side being offset downwardly .from thc plane of theshelf, and at the other side being offset upwardly. These function in the same way as the ears 52 before men? tioned.

What is claimed: l. A box of the character described comprising a body plate forming two walls including one side, and a second plate member bent to form three walls abutting the first two to complete a box open at one side.

2. In a metal box construction a side element, a second element having an edge abutting the inner face of the first element close to its edge', the first element being formed with a slit adjacent the inner surface of the second element, the metal at the inner side of the slit being inset over the abutting )late and the metal at the outer side of t e slit bein .expanded and bent outwardly and inwar ly over the outer face of the second named and abutting element.

3. In a metal box construction a side element, a second element having an edge abutting the inner face of the first element close to its edge, the first element being formed NILS T. CLEMENTS. Witnesses:

L. A. MUNRO, DOROTHY WILLIAMS. 

